Top 12 Fertility Supplements for Women: Boost Your Chances of Conception Naturally
When dealing with infertility, the best thing you can do is prioritize your health and work on treating any underlying complications. While maintaining a healthy diet is the first step, your doctor will also recommend supplements to help meet your nutritional needs.
These supplements come in various types and each targets a specific pregnancy-related complication like PCOS, inflammation, or Endometriosis. By providing adequate nutrients to your body, supplements combat the underlying complications and increase your chances of becoming a mother.
To make things even easier for you, here is a simple guide to the best fertility supplements for women, recommended dosage, success rate, and benefits.
A Quick Look at the Best Fertility Supplements
● Best for Improving Female Antral Follicle Count: Prenatal (contains folic acid or methylfolate).
● Best for Egg Quality: CoQ10 / Ubiquinol (supports mitochondrial function).
● Best for Reducing Inflammation and Hormonal Balance: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA/EPA).
● Best for Hormonal Regulation and Ovarian Function: Vitamin D.
● Best for Reducing Oxidative Stress in Eggs: Melatonin.
● Best for Managing Endometriosis Symptoms: R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
● Best for Antioxidant Support in Fertility: Vitamin C.
● Best for Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: N-Acetylcysteine (NAC).
● Best for Insulin Sensitivity and PCOS-Related Egg Quality: Myo-Inositol.
● Best for Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve: DHEA.
● Best for PCOS Management and Ovarian Health: L-Carnitine.
● Best for Endometriosis-Related Fertility Issues: Acai Berry Extract.
Best Fertility Supplements for Women
If you are seeking conception, you better know that pregnancy and fertility health are directly connected. A balanced approach to both is taking a rich diet and adding supplements to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Here is a detailed explanation of the best fertility supplements for women to treat pregnancy-related challenges effectively.
Prenatal – Best for Improving Female Antral Follicle Count
Recommended Dosage: 400–800 mcg daily.
The foundation of a healthy pregnancy starts long before conception, and prenatal supplements play a key role in supporting that. They are specially formulated for women who are trying to conceive and boost their AFC to increase their chances of conception.
What does it mean? Prenatal supplements are rich in folic acid (or its active form, methylfolate) that increases Antral Follicle Count (AFC). It refers to the number of antral follicles visible in the ovaries during an ultrasound, where a higher AFC means more potential for pregnancy.
Success Rate: In a medical experiment conducted on 552 women, researchers found that higher folate intake positively increased the Antral Follicle Count in women. Hence, females who take folic acid are more likely to receive improved fertility outcomes.
Other benefits:
● After conceiving, folic acid also supports neural tube development – a process that occurs in the early stages of pregnancy and is related to the baby’s brain and spinal cord development.
● Prenatal vitamins are necessary for the mother’s health as they are rich in iron, calcium, and vitamins D and B12.
CoQ10 / Ubiquinol – Best for Egg Quality
Recommended Dosage: 200–600 mg daily.
CoQ10, also known as Ubiquinol, is an antioxidant that helps women get pregnant by increasing their CPR (chances of a successful pregnancy). Moreover, taking CoQ10 supplements also supports mitochondrial function and improves egg quality to boost fertility.
Success Rate: In a research conducted on 664 women, CoQ10 supplements were given to 449 infertile females while the remaining 215 females received a placebo or no treatment. Researchers found that CoQ10 doubled the CPR (Clinical Pregnancy Rate) to 28.8% compared to 14.1% in the placebo group. Surprisingly, this effect of CoQ10 supplementation was more visible in females with poor ovarian response and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Other benefits:
● Women with low CoQ10 levels are more likely to be at risk of complications such as oxidative stress and inflammation. Ubiquinol supplements combat these risks and improve their overall health.
CoQ10 / Ubiquinol
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA/EPA) – Best for Reducing Inflammation and Hormonal Balance
Recommended Dosage: 1,000–2,000 mg daily.
Omega-3 fatty acids are the holy grail of a successful conception, as they boost both male and female reproductive health. For women, omega-3 supplements reduce inflammation and promote a healthy hormonal balance. Likewise, they improve sperm quality in males which in turn, increases chances of fertilization and pregnancy.
Success Rate: A group of researchers observed many adult female mice across multiple generations to observe the impact of omega-3-rich, omega-6-rich, and fat-deficient diets on reproductive success. They found that mice who received an omega-3-rich diet had improved fertility levels, reproductive longevity, and higher offspring survival rates, even for those at advanced maternal age.
Likewise, omega-3 supplements are also observed to improve semen quality in infertile men and those seeking fertility treatment.
Other benefits:
● Omega-3 supplements improve egg quality in females trying to conceive.
● They support the development of a healthy uterine lining and lower the risk of complications like ovarian dysfunction.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamin D – Best for Hormonal Regulation and Ovarian Function
Recommended Dosage: 2,000–5,000 IU daily based on levels.
Females with low vitamin D levels face more hormonal problems which could hinder their chance of getting pregnant. This is why taking vitamin D is one of the best fertility supplements for women, as it regulates hormones and menstrual frequency as well as healthy ovarian function.
Success rate: Studies done on 132 women found that females who received sufficient vitamin D levels had significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates (67.5% vs. 49.0%) and live birth rates (59.0% vs. 40.0%) in comparison to those with inadequate levels.
Other benefits:
● Vitamin D supplements support bone health for both the mother and baby.
● It also promotes a healthy immune system.
● It lowers the risk of preeclampsia and helps maintain a healthy birth weight.
Vitamin D
Melatonin – Best for Reducing Oxidative Stress in Eggs
Recommended Dosage: 1–3 mg before bedtime (for 1-3 months).
Females who face fertility issues due to PCOS can get significant improvement with melatonin supplements. It is best for reducing oxidative stress in eggs – a condition that damages the egg's DNA, proteins, and cellular structures, resulting in infertility.
Success rate: A number of participants received melatonin supplementation for 40 days. The results indicated that consistent melatonin intake enhanced antioxidant activity in the body, which helped in reducing oxidative stress markers and improving fertility. Moreover, these positive results were observed in females with unexplained causes of infertility.
Other benefits:
● Melatonin supplements also support ovarian reserve and improve IVF outcomes.
Melatonin
R-Alpha-lipoic Acid – Best for Managing Endometriosis Symptoms
Recommended Dosage: 200-600 mg
R-Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant that combats conditions like Endometriosis in women. Endometriosis is the growth of an unnecessary, uterine-like tissue outside the uterus. Since it is not part of the natural reproductive system, it leads to pain, inflammation, and infertility.
Success rate: A group of researchers regularly gave R-Alpha-lipoic acid to sub-fertile females. The results were shocking, as the supplement significantly improved their oocyte maturation, with a major increase in grade 1 embryos (75.7% vs. 57.7%). In other words, the supplement intake reduced pelvic pain in endometriosis, regulated their menstrual cycle, and treated metabolic disorders.
Other benefits:
● R-Alpha-lipoic acid supplements are known to lower oxidative stress.
● They combat inflammation by neutralizing free radicals, reducing cellular damage, and decreasing inflammatory markers in the body (which improves fertility).
Vitamin C – Best for Antioxidant Support in Fertility
Recommended Dosage: 1000 mg
You can count on vitamin C as the best fertility supplement for women thanks to its powerful antioxidant properties. Taking vitamin C supplements lowers the impact of free radicals in the female body, resulting in fewer cell damage and higher CPR.
Success Rate: When some women were given vitamin C supplements in an experiment, researchers found a significant increase in their follicular ascorbic acid levels (8.98 ± 5.09 mg/l vs. 5.04 ± 2.85 mg/l) and improved pregnancy rates, particularly in non-smokers (57.9% vs. 31.6%).
Other benefits:
● Along with helping the female body, taking vitamin C supplements positively impacts sperm quality, motility, and number in males too.
Vitamin C
N-acetylcysteine – Best for Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Recommended Dosage: 600 mg
N-acetylcysteine is another key supplement with antioxidant properties. It stimulates glutathione production in the female body, which in turn reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and chromosomal damage to the egg.
Success Rate: Research conducted on 2,330 women across 15 studies found that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) increased CPR by around 55%, ovulation rates by about 77%, and miscarriage rates by 24% lower.
Other benefits:
● N-acetylcysteine supplementation also reduces insulin resistance, which increases ovulation rates in females suffering from PCOS.
● For men, N-acetylcysteine improves sperm count.
Myo-Inositol – Best for Insulin Sensitivity and PCOS-Related Egg Quality
Recommended Dosage: 2–4 g daily.
Myo-Inositol is known for improving menstrual cycle and ovarian health among women suffering from PCOS. Since this condition can severely impact the fertility rate, Myo-Inositol supplements promote a higher rate of insulin resistance and ovulation to help conceive faster.
Success Rate: Researchers compared two groups of women suffering from PCOS: 247 females who were given Myo-Inositol (MI) alone or with folic acid (FA) or D-chiro-inositol (DCI) and 249 women who received FA or other treatments. The first group had significantly reduced fasting insulin levels by an average of 1.02 µU/mL and improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA index) than the second group. Hence, Myo-Inositol is proven to boost fertility in women with PCOS by managing insulin resistance and enhancing egg quality.
Other benefits:
● After conceiving, Myo-Inositol supplements help in preventing gestational diabetes.
Myo-Inositol
DHEA – Best for Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Recommended Dosage: 25 mg three times daily (consult a doctor).
Diminished ovarian reserve is when a woman has less number of eggs in her ovaries than other women. This severely impacts her chances of getting pregnant, which is why DHEA supplements are used to improve ovarian response and boost the chances of conception by increasing AMH levels. Moreover, DHEA supplements increase egg quality, resulting in higher conceiving rates, especially in women undergoing IVF.
Success Rate: In a study, researchers gave DHEA supplementation to women with diminished ovarian reserve going through IVF. They found that the DHEA dosage increased AMH levels and improved IVF pregnancy chances from approximately 5% per cycle at AMH levels ≤1.05 ng/mL to rates where miscarriage risk significantly decreased beyond this threshold.
Other benefits:
● DHEA supplements increase the number of follicles in the ovaries, which is another factor contributing to pregnancy.
L-Carnitine – Best for PCOS Management and Ovarian Health
Recommended Dosage: 3g
PCOS is a real barrier in the way of conception, which is why fertility supplements for women must include L-Carnitine. It combats PCOS and improves its symptoms, thereby increasing the chances of conception. Taking L-Carnitine supplements also slows down the age-related changes in the female reproductive system, which helps in getting pregnant faster.
Success rate: In a study, researchers gave 3g of L-Carnitine regularly for three months to 80 women previously diagnosed with PCOS. After three months, they found great improvements, such as increased HDL levels, more regular menstrual cycles, and reduced hirsutism – which means better management of PCOS. Moreover, the supplementation also enhanced insulin sensitivity, reduced LDL levels, and lowered BMI in the participants.
Other benefits:
● Taking L-Carnitine supplements promotes mitochondrial oxidation of long-chain fatty acids to boost fertility.
Acai – Best for Endometriosis-Related Fertility Issues
Acai is another supplement well-known for treating Endometriosis-related fertility issues in women. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that keep the female reproductive system healthy. Taking acai supplements also regulates the menstrual hormones, which makes ovulation easier to track.
Success rate: In a study done on 20 animals with endometrial explants, researchers were surprised to see that Acai dosages significantly suppressed the growth of lesions in those animals. After 15 days, while the lesions appeared viable, cystic, and well-vascularized, the treated group had reduced implant size and relatively smaller lesion areas compared to the control group.
Other benefits:
● Acai supplements reduce damage to the eggs and ovaries by combating free radicals.
● They also reduce oxidative stress in the body, which promotes fertility.
Acai
Summary
The journey to conception is filled with many ups and downs. These fertility challenges can arise due to various factors, and diet alone is not always enough to prepare the body for pregnancy. This is why supplements play a crucial role in addressing specific complications and help meet the nutritional needs of your body. From improving hormonal balance to supporting egg quality, these supplements are scientifically backed to minimize complications and increase your chances of successfully conceiving.
PhD in Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology. With extensive research expertise and a passion for education, he excels in advancing anatomical sciences, mentoring students, and creating precise, visually compelling illustrations that bridge complex scientific concepts with accessible understanding.